Meet “la tienda,” the village’s go-to shop. It carries a wide range of items, from fresh produce like tomatoes, onions, and jalapeno peppers to dried goods, cans, and basic household items. This means you don’t have to travel to town for everyday needs. However, the variety is limited to a few vegetables and maybe one kind of fruit when in season—definitely no meat or fish. Also, prices here are higher: 10-20% higher than shops 6 miles away and up to 50% more than stores 20 miles away. The steepest markups are on small quantities. For example, if you can’t afford a carton of 30 eggs, you can buy a single egg for 72% more. Similarly, many people buy tiny portions of flour, oil, and Maggi seasoning cubes at far higher prices because they can’t afford larger quantities. These small bags are affordable at $0.25 each, but when compared to family-sized bags at big stores like Walmart, the markup is significant.
We pay our workers weekly because they couldn’t make it through a month without a paycheck, and even then, many struggle to make ends meet. They often resort to costly payday loans with interest rates up to 5% monthly APR. Even small household items bought on credit, such as a $30 blender, end up costing twice as much over 18 months. Big shops profit from this, but it’s disheartening to see hard-earned money go towards financing unnecessary items.
Moving on to our land development, there’s been significant progress! The entrance gate is now finished, and we’ve added white earth to give the area a clean look and ensure it’s sturdy enough for cars. We also had workers clear the roadside, transforming it from a weed-covered mess to a polished space. The land itself has grown lush and green within just two months, thanks to the rainy season. We only cut five trees and cleared the rest with machetes, leaving the land neat.
Now, only the pasture has grown back, and it’s strong. Around 200 tropical sheep (a cross between a goat and a sheep) graze daily, keeping weeds in check—a win-win situation for us and the shepherd who gets free feed. Nearby, the local council attempted to build a public beach and promenade, but the project has stalled since March due to mismanagement and funds running out. Heavy rains and an accident with a truck have further damaged the unfinished site.
On a less positive note, we were reported by a neighbor for deforestation. A government team visited our land but found no wrongdoing as it had been a pasture for years. However, they insisted we need permits for a wall and road we were rebuilding. We’ll comply but won’t resort to bribes to smooth things over. It’s frustrating, but we’ll handle these delays properly. BF and I stand firm on not giving in to corruption, even if it means more time-consuming paperwork.